Venceremos (song) explained

"Venceremos" (pronounced as /es/) (translated as "We will prevail") was the anthem of the Popular Unity, a left-wing political bloc that brought socialist Salvador Allende to the presidency of Chile in 1970.

The lyrics were written by Claudio Iturra and the music composed by Sergio Ortega.[1] It was originally popularized by the Chilean groups Inti-Illimani and Quilapayún. A second version for the 1970 presidential campaign was written by Víctor Jara, on the same Ortega music.[2]

'Venceremos' is an example of the Nueva canción movement of Chilean protest music, which had been gaining momentum for much of the previous decade. This song marks a significant recognition of the political thrust of this movement in its use as a tool of propaganda for the Unidad Popular coalition. Following the success of 'Venceremos', Allende famously stated "there can be no revolution without song".[3]

Versions

This song has appeared on various official albums, being performed by multiple musical artists.

By Inti Illimani

Others

This song has been used as a ``second´´ international song, since it is in several languages, among these are: German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Finnish. etc.

Lyrics

Lyrics in original language (Spanish)

Desde el hondo crisol de la patria

se levanta el clamor popular;

ya se anuncia la nueva alborada,

todo Chile comienza a cantar.

Recordando al soldado valiente

cuyo ejemplo lo hiciera inmortal

enfrentemos primero a la muerte:

traicionar a la patria jamás.

Venceremos, venceremos

mil cadenas habrá que romper

venceremos, venceremos,

al fascismo sabremos vencer!

Venceremos, venceremos

mil cadenas habrá que romper

venceremos, venceremos,

al fascismo sabremos vencer!

Campesinos, soldados y obreros,

la mujer de la patria también,

estudiantes, empleados, mineros

cumpliremos con nuestro deber.

Sembraremos la tierra de gloria;

socialista será el porvenir,

todos juntos seremos la historia,

a cumplir, a cumplir, a cumplir.

Venceremos, venceremos

mil cadenas habrá que romper

venceremos, venceremos,

al fascismo sabremos vencer!Lyrics in English

From the deep crucible of the homeland

the peoples voices rises up;

The new dawn is announced,

all of Chile starts singing.

Remembering the brave soldier

whose example made him immortal

first we confront death:

our homeland we´ll never betray.

We shall prevail, We shall prevail[2]

a thousand chains we´ll have to break

We shall prevail, We shall prevail,

We can overcome fascism[1]!

We shall prevail, We shall prevail

a thousand chains we´ll have to break

We shall prevail, We shall prevail,

We can overcome fascism[1]!

Peasants, soldiers and miners[3]

the woman of the homeland as well,

students, employees, workers[3]

We will fulfil our duty.

We will sow the land of glory;

socialist will be our future,

all together we will be the history,

to fulfill, to fulfill, to fulfill.

We shall prevail, We shall prevail[2]

a thousand chains we´ll have to break

We shall prevail, We shall prevail,

We can overcome fascism[1]!

We shall prevail, We shall prevail

a thousand chains we´ll have to break

We shall prevail, We shall prevail,

We can overcome fascism[1]!

1: There are variations that instead of fascism say misery

2: there are variations in which the chorus is not repeated

3: there are variations in which they change workers for miners

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Morris, Nancy E. . Canto Porque Es Necesario Cantar: The New Song Movement in Chile, 1973-1983 . 1984 . Latin American Institute, University of New Mexico . en.
  2. Book: Milos, Pedro . Chile 1970: El país en que triunfa Salvador Allende . 2013 . Ediciones Universidad Alberto Hurtado . 978-956-9320-43-9 . es.
  3. Balderston, Daniel, Mike Gonzalez, Ana M. Lopez (eds.), Encyclopaedia of Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean Cultures. p.788